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Dempster takes mound in matchup with Royals

Sep 5, 2012 - 2:48 PM (Sports Network) - Ryan Dempster aims for a fourth straight win on Wednesday when the Texas Rangers continue a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Dempster improved to 4-1 as a member of the Rangers on Friday in Cleveland, as he allowed just an unearned run and two hits in six innings to lower his season ERA to 2.87. However, he did walk three batters and has pitched to a 4.58 ERA in six starts with the Rangers.

Dempster has faced the Royals twice and is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA.

Kansas City will rely on lefty Everett Teaford, who is 1-3 with a 4.30 ERA. Teaford did not get a decision on Saturday against Minnesota, but was terrific in scattering three hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings.

This will be his first-ever start against the Rangers.

On Tuesday, the Royals overpowered the AL West leaders, claiming a 6-3 win.

Alex Gordon and Johnny Giavotella homered for Kansas City, which lost the opener, 8-4, on Monday.

After giving up a run in the first two innings, Jeremy Guthrie (4-3) rebounded to go seven innings and win his fourth straight decision. He gave up two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Matt Harrison (15-9), who gave up seven runs in his last outing, surrendered five runs -- three earned -- on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

"I felt good coming into today," Harrison said. "But I had a high pitch count early, 80 pitches through four, and not a lot of good things happen when you throw that many pitches through four innings."

"He's got great numbers," Gordon said. "He's been doing it all season long. He did it against us earlier in the year. We put some good at-bats together and the offense did pretty well against a pretty good left-handed pitcher."

Kansas City has won four of its seven meetings with the Rangers this season.